Scrap Mashelkar report, demand scientists, NGOs

Mumbai: Scientists and NGOs have demanded scrapping of Mashelkar Committee report already under attack from Left parties for alleged plagiarism.

At a brain-storming session here, the experts flayed the report on two counts -- overlooking the amendments on the Patents Act and patentability of new chemical entitites (NCEs).

Scientists and NGOs aired their views at the session recently and unanimously rejected the report.

The experts said the desire of Members of Parliament during a debate in April 2005 on the subject should be respected and issues pertaining to patentability of new chemical entitites and micro-organism should be addressed without bias for a cost-effective health care.

“This approach will also ensure an effective role of the domestic enterprises to promote access to medicine for all as recommended in the Doha Declaration on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and Public Health,” they said.

They said for the last two years, TRIPS amendment Section (3d) of 2005 has not been disputed by any member of World Trade Organisation (WTO) and was a direct proof of the acceptance of amendment made in the Parliament.

The Technical committee which was formed after the amendment cannot deliberate on the amendment itself but had to decide whether any further improvement is necessary with respect to the scope of patentability of NCE.